Valve structure



April 25, 195o T. E. MEAD 2,505,333

' VALVE STRUCTURE April 25, 1950 Filed Spt. 4, 1945 T. E. MEAD 2,505,333

VALVE STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 25, v1950 VALVE STRUCTURETheodore E. Mead, Wilmette, Ill., assgnor to Mead Specialties Company,Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application September 4, 1945, SerialNo. 614,414

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a valve structure and to improved partstherein.

An object of the present invention is to provide a valve structure inwhich ready assembly of the parts may be effected and the partsselectively operated to direct pressure iluid from the intake to one oftwo work chambers or to an exhaust port. Another object is to provide avalve structure in which threaded connections for securing the valveparts in position are eliminated and in which a very simple assemblymethod is made possible. Other specic objects and advantages will appearas the specication proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by theaccompanying drawing, in Which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalView of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan view; Fig.3, a transverse lsectional View, the section being taken as indicated atline 3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view, the section beingtaken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5, a transverse sectionalview, the section being taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6,an exploded view of the Valve and sleeve assembly; Fig. 7, a top planview of the valve structure housed within mechanism for selectivelyoperating the valves; Fig. 8, a side view in elevation of the structureshown in Fig. '7; Fig. 9, a front end view of the structure shown inFig. '7; Fig. l0, a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the actuatingmechanism in diierent stages of operation; and Fig. il, a longitudinalsectional view of the valve casing and similar to Fig. l but showing oneof the valves in operation.

In the illustration given, a valve casing I Il is provided with a base II which is laterally extended to provide a firm support for the valvestructure. The casing provides a pair of valve chambers runninglongitudinally of the casing. The inlet valve chamber I2 communicateswith the outlet or exhaust valve chamber I3 through a constrictedpassage I4. The casing provides valve seats I5 and I5 at the pointswhere the large chambers meet the constricted passages I4.

The valves engaging valve seats I5 and I6 are identical in constructionand are shown in detail in Fig. 6. The valve head I1 is recessed on itsinner side to provide a chamber I8 to receive the sealing plug I9 whichmay be of rubber, artincial rubber, or any other suitable flexiblesealing material. Each head I'l hasV its sides cut away at lle toprovide spaces within the circular chambers I2 and I3 through whichfluid may readily pass. Integrally formed with the head Il is a stem 20which projects inwardly within the narrow passage I4. Integrally formedwith the head I'I but extending in the opposite direction isa boss 2Iwhich secures a spring in alignment therewith. A sleeve 22 receives thestems 20 and abuts the sealing plug I9 of each valve head. With thisassembly, the sleeve 22 serves as a means for communicating pressurefrom one valve head to the other and simultaneously maintains theresilient or flexible plugs i9 rmly within the recess I8 of each valvehead.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, an inlet port 23 threadedlyreceived within a tting, communicates directly through ports 24 and 25with the inlet chambers I2. A spring 26 in each oi the chambers I2engages the boss 2| and urges the corresponding valve head toward itsseat. The rear end of the spring 26 is received within a seat 2'Iprovided by the threaded plug 28 which closes the rear end of chamberI2. Communicating with one of the passages I4 is a port 29 which opensinto a threaded port 30 from which a connection will lead to a workcylinder. A similar passage 3l leads from the other constricted passageI4 to a port 32 from which a threaded connection will lead to a workcylinder, etc., as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

The exhaust chambers I3 are each provided With an outlet port 33. Aspring 34, which is preferably heavier than spring 26, is mounted ineach of the chambers I3 and on its inner end engages boss 2I. At itsouter end, the spring 34 is received within the recess 35 of the ballplunger 36. The plunger 36 is provided with a ball extension 31 and withnarrow shoulders 38 adjacent the ball extensions 3l. The casing istapped at 39 to receive a screw 40 which overlaps the narrow shoulders38 and serves to conne both plungers 36 in position. For disassembly itis only necessary to remove the screw 40 in order to remove bothplungers 36 and their related parts.

Any suitable means for actuating the plungers 36 may be employed. Iprefer to use the structure illustrated more clearly in Figs. 7, 8, 9and 10. In this structure, the valve mechanism is carried by a base 4Iprovided with two Vertical side walls 42. A treadle member 43 havingdepending sides 44 enclosing sides 42 is pivotally supported upon sides42 by the shaft 45.

The tting 23a communicates through the side wall 42 with the inlet port23, and the fittings 32a and 30a likewise communicate through one of theside walls 42 with the ports 32 and 30 respectively.

The treadle member 43 is provided at its forward end with a dependingactuator arm 46 which lis provided at an intermediate point with a cam4l. In normal position, the cam 4l lies between the plungers 36 and willselectively operate either one, depending upon the direction of tiltinggiven the treadle member d3.

Operation In the; operation of the apparatus, the operator will tiltwith his foot the treadle. member 43 t0 selectively engage one of theplungers 35. When the plunger 35 is moved inwardly, it pushes spring 34and thereby moves the valve Il toward its seat I6. In normal operation,the valve W is slightly unseated so that the .chamber t3 is. incommunication with the pa.ssageY it. Upon the. movement just described,the valve Il Will bring the sealing plug IS thereof into airtightengagement with the valve seat r6. At'the same time, the thrust of thesleeve 22 against theplug; L9 of the opposite valve head Il will unseatthat valve. and willY perm-.it the inflow ci air from. chamber l2 intothe passage i4 andjthence into outlet. passage 29 or 3l, depending uponYwhich valve. is` being actuated', to the Correspendingv work cylinder.Upon release of the selected plunger 3S, the. valve4 plug within theinlet chamber 121 will move toits. initial.. position` engaging thevalve seat. i5' and theuid pressure. within the Chamber will; hold thevalve, plug i9 thereof continuously inA airsealing .engagement with seatI5. At the same time, the thrust or` sleeve 2?. will unseat the oppositevalve plug lain chamber t3, and'permit air within the work. cylinder toexhaust back through passage. it into chamber It` and out throughexhaust port 3,3.. The valves are extremely quick. acting.. A singleinlet. eine. feeds i the inlet. chambers which are in. onen.cinnmunica`tion with each other and thus. insures the rm seating of the valvestherein. In. theoperation, the` sleeve. 22 is. the. eicctive element4in. transmitting pressure from one valve. to the other and at. the sametime. the sleeve maintains the valve heads. Il, by meansof their stemsreceived. within the; sleeve. freely in alignment withA their seats.

The assembly of the valve. structure within the valve casing in priorpractices hasA been eX- tremely diicult and expensive because or themany parts and. the threaded` connections and the necessity oi threadingon parts while in the valve chamber.v Iny the present. construction, asimple unitary valve body is, formed which, in a single piece, providesa hollow valve headl for receiving the plug, a steun and va spring lug.The valve plug in, such a, head would not remain in position against theair pressure which would passbehind the plug and. fome, it-outwardly,and in, prior Yrutac'tices it. has been necessary to form threaded stemsupon whichl retaining nuts are threaded.. In..v the. present,-structure.. applicant is.-

able to. avoid all such, expense andY difficulty of assembly byemploying, instead of a commonY inthe opposite end chamber and withinpassage UL The other valve isI droppedintothe chamber with its stemreceived within the sleeve. The s pri-nggoff that. chamber istheninserted and the endl closed. In theieur-way valve. structure` il-ulustrated ther two chambers: are lled. sunnita* therefore, pass oithrough the port 32.

neously at one end of the structure before the structure is up-ended toll the other end. It takes but a moment to complete assembly. Theassembly is accurate and the parts are necessarily aligned when theassembly is completed.

In Fig. ll the actuation of one of the plungers by the. cam l? ofactuator it is shown. By the inward pressure exerted upon spring 3d, thevalve is urged inwardly and seals seat I6. The sleeve 22; pressesagainst the opposing valve and moves it away from seat l5. The incomingfluid may, When the actuator member it is raised so as to engage theupperA plunger 36 and move it inwardly, the same movement of the valveswill cause uid to pass out through port 38.

In the structure illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusiva the valvemechanism is completely housed within the structure provided by the basedl., treadle. member d?, and the telescoping side walls d2 and dit. Theactuating lever d@ is conveniently suspended from the front of thetreadle member d3 so as to actuate selectively either of the plungersvSe b y slight tilting of the treadle member.

It will be understood that the new valve structure described herein,employing the sleeve and integral head and stem parts, may be employedin single-passage air valves as well as in the nmltipley passages hereindescribed. Further, while the inventionv has been described herein indetail. for theY purpose. of illustration, it will be understood thatsuch details be varied widely by those. skilled in the artwithoutdeparting from the spirit of .my invention..

I claim:

1. Ina valve. structure, a casing providing a passage with spaced valveseats therein, valves facing said seats and each other, each of saidvalves having an integral valve stem extending toward the other valvebut spaced therefrom, a sleevesnugly receiving said valve stems andhavingits ends abutting said valves, and a spring urging at. leastone ofsaid valves toward its seat.

2. In a valve Structure, acasing providing a pas sage. with spaced valveseats therein, said valveseats. being disposed at a point intermediatesaid passage` and facing in opposite directions, said valves having;cupped portions facing said valve seats. and each other and havingcentral integral ste-m portions extend-ing between said valve seats butspaced from eachV other, and a centering sleeve snuglyI receiving saidstems and having its ends abutting said valves, and spring meansengaging at least one or" said valves to urge the same toward its seat.

3. In.` a valvestructure, a casing having a pas.- sage extendingtherethrough, said casing providing centrally of the passage aconstricted portion providingY at itsl ends spaced valve seats facing inOpposite directions, poppet Valves slideably mounted in said passage andfacing said seats and. each other, each of said valves havinginwardlyextending stems, a sleeve snugly receiving said stems andspacing the'same apart, the ends ci said sleeveI abutting said valves,said casing providing also ports communicating with said passage oneither sideof said valves, spring means urging one of said valvestow-ard its seat and actuating means urging the other ofsaid valvestoward its seat.

4. In. a` valve' structure, a casing providing a passage and valve seatsspaced therein, said valve seatsf-acing in opposite directions,valveshaving inner cupped portions facing said seats and each other,`saidv valves having inwardly-extending stems,l a sleeve4 snuglyreceiving said stems and spacing the same apart, at least one of saidValves having an integral stem extending in the opposite direction fromthe said first-mentioned stem, a

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Y le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 10 Number Name Date Grebel etal Dec. 13,1910 Hallstead July 20, 1926 Price Sept. 13, 1932 Anderberg May 14, 1935McLeod Oct. 27, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Italy Nov. 30, 1936Great Britain Apr. 14, 1936

